Definition

The term credit union refers to a not-for-profit financial institution that provides services to its members. Credit unions accept deposits and loans money to its membership in addition to other financial services.

Explanation

Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives, established to provide its clients with financial services such as lending money and accepting deposits. Their not-for-profit status, along with a volunteer board of directors, allows these institutions to provide competitive interest rates on both loans and deposits.

Members of a credit union are also its owners. As such, these member / owners are able to vote volunteers to the credit union's board of directors. Individuals can gain access to credit unions in the following ways:

Employers: large employers oftentimes sponsor credit unions as part of a larger offering of benefits to their employees.

Relatives: once a member of a credit union, membership may be extended to family members too.

Geography: credit unions are sometimes established to service a community.

Affinity Groups: finally, credit unions may also be associated with affinity groups such as places of worship, boards of education, homeowners' associations, and bargaining units.